Alternative Rock: Blur - Song 2

MISE EN SCENE Example

EDITING Example

Carol Vernallis' Theory

Andrew Goodwin's Theory

Rock Music Video Analysis (Cage The Elephant - Back Against The Wall)

Cinematography

Close Up/ Mid Shots of Artists - 

Focus Pulls - During this music video a large number of focus pulls are used. This obscures a large amount of the shot for the audience, and then shows it for a short amount of time before cutting to the next shot. This technique blurs the video adding a sense of surrealism.

Mise En Scene

Colour - In this music video very bright colours are used. This coupled with the background of a forest with trees and flowers gives the audience the feel that this is some sort of fairy tale world. This is further shown through the characters of the gnomes. These very bright colour pallet contrasts the performance of the character, as he can be seen trying to kill the gnomes, and also the lyrics are about the singer feeling trapped. This contrast to the colour helps to create a sinister tone as it gives the impression that the artist is troubled, and helps to create an image of them being rebellious.

This is clearly represented through this shot. The bright flower on the left symbolises beauty, whereas the gas can represents destruction.

Performance - Throughout the music video the lead singer can be seen attempting to kill and abuse the gnome characters. This performance helps to enforce the convention of rock music videos as being edgy, as the actions the character is doing makes him come across as evil, not someone who should be idolised, as seen in other music video genres such as pop.

Eye Contact - Eye contact is a convention used in almost all music videos, and across all genres. This is due to it allowing the artist to create a connection between them and the audience.

Lip Sycning/Playing Instruments - Like eye contact lip sycning and performance of instruments is seen in all genres of music videos. This gives the audience the impression that the artist is singing the actual song and the band is playing in each shot.

Low Budget Music Video Ideas

Website

http://08devonporth.wix.com/kevin

Lip Sync Homework

Rock Music Video Analysis (Kasabian - Where Did All the Love Go?)

Cinematography
 

Mid/Longshots of band -

 

Large amount of close ups - The large amount of close ups, primarily  on the vocalist and the guitarist help them to make a connection with the audience, as the audience has a clear view of their face.

Mise en Scene

Dark costume - Throughout the music video the costumes that the performers are wearing consist of dark, and dull colours such as black and grey. This creates negative connotations and helps make the tone more downbeat.

 

Leather Jacket - The lead vocalist of the group can be seen wearing a black leather jacket. This creates the representation of him being rebellious, and creates an image for the band that they do as they wish, and are unruly.

Negative iconography - During the music video the audience is shown shots containing lots of negative connotations, such as child with his face painted like a skull, or a clown. This helps create an appearance of the band being edgy and eccentric.

Low key lighting - Through the use of low key lighting negative connotations of sadness and darkness are created. This gives helps to emphasise the sombre tone of the song.

Performance of instruments -
 

 

Editing

Largest duration on band - This is seen through the camera spending the largest amount of time on the band, with very fast cuts to the other locations and characters in the video. This shows the audience that they are the most important part of the video. 

Conventions of Pop Music Videos

Conventions of a pop music video:

Cinematography:

• Large amount of close ups

A very large amount of pop music videos have a large amount of close ups and a large focus on the artist, mainly the lead vocalist. This allows the audience to look at the singer, creating a connection with them.

(Riahanna - Shut Up And Drive)

(Britney Spears - Toxic)

• Shot types make the artist look vulnerable

This is more common in pop music videos, in which the artist is female. The shots make the artist look vulnerable to increase the amount of sex appeal for male audience.

(Katy Perry - Firework)
These two loose frame, high angle shots of the artist singing make her appear isolated to the audience, giving the impression that she is vulnerable and weak to the audience.

Mise en Scene

• Dancing/Movement

Some form of dance, or performance from the artist is seen in almost every pop music video. This makes both the artist, and the video seem more lively and interesting, keeping the audience watching.

(Lady Gaga - Paparazzi)

• Multiple locations

The setting changes multiple times in music videos as it keeps it interesting for the audience, and the setting change is often accompanied by a costume change

(Riahanna - Shut Up And Drive)

(Katy Perry - Teenage Dream)

• Aspirational

One convention of pop music videos is showing the audience things that they would want, or strive to achieve, such  as cars, or money. This allows the audience to connect with the artist, as they may show what they desire, and also makes the artist appear more wealthy and famous.

(Riahanna - Shut Up And Drive)
These images show the audience lots of expensive looking cars, which the audience would desire to own. 



(Britney Spears - Toxic)
In the music video there were props of expensive looking champagne glasses, and jets.

 

• Bright colours

A common convention of pop music videos is bright colours. This makes the music video more interesting and appealing for the audience to look at, whether it be setting or costume.

(Lady Gaga - Poker Face)

(Riahanna - Shut Up And Drive)

• Eye contact

Eye contact is used in almost all music videos, as it creates a very strong connection between the artist and the consumer. This is due to it appearing as if the artist is looking directly at the audience, and singing the song to them.

(Lady Gaga - Poker Face)

(Britney Spears - Toxic)

• Lip syncing

Lip Syncing is a convention of all music videos and makes it appear like the artist is singing the song that the audience is consuming, in that location.

Editing

• Longest duration on vocals

A common convention of music videos is that the largest duration of shots is spent on the lead vocalist. This is due to this performer directly addressing the audience, allowing them to make the greatest connection.

• Cut on beat or key vocal

Cutting on the beat or a vocal makes the music video transition between shots more fluidly, and also helps to speed up the pace of the shots.

(Riahanna - Shut Up And Drive)

Cuts on the vocal of, "Shut up and drive."